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The differences between business consultants and functional consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a business consultant, becoming a functional consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a business consultant has an average salary of $87,214, which is higher than the $85,317 average annual salary of a functional consultant.
The top three skills for a business consultant include data analysis, project management and strong analytical. The most important skills for a functional consultant are business process, prototyping, and ERP.
| Business Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $87,214 | $85,317 |
| Hourly rate | $41.93 | $41.02 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 128,033 | 51,066 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A business consultant is an individual who works directly with business owners on developing a business plan and identifying their marketing needs. Business consultants offer business owners a wide range of services, such as supplementing existing staff, provide expertise in a specific market, and influencing other people. To increase revenue in business, business consultants should have experience success with the previous business owners. Business consultants must also have a bachelor's degree in business management and received years of field training.
A functional consultant is responsible for supporting a team of business analysts and software engineers in designing and creating a software system and related computer applications, following the specifications of a client on their software needs. Functional consultants analyze different technological approaches, evaluate technical solutions, and utilize the best system method to meet the requirements of a client efficiently. A functional consultant performs multiple diagnostic tests to ensure the optimal performance of the system. They should also have excellent communication skills, especially in coordinating with the clients on updates and adjustments as needed.
Business consultants and functional consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Average salary | $87,214 | $85,317 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $117,000 | Between $65,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | ZS | Workday |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a business consultant and a functional consultant in terms of educational background:
| Business Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | - |
Here are the differences between business consultants' and functional consultants' demographics:
| Business Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2% | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 25.2% White, 51.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 8% |